The Church of St Peter and St Paul

You'll find this 14th-century church right in Hailsham, impossible to miss with its distinctive tower rising above the town centre. The Church of St Peter and St Paul is a proper slice of medieval Sussex - all flint and stone, with the kind of interior that stops you mid-step when you walk through the door. The stained glass alone is worth a look, and the chancel has genuine character that you don't get in a lot of parish churches.

It's the sort of place that appeals to history types and architecture enthusiasts far more than it will to restless children. You're looking at thirty to forty minutes here unless you're really into ecclesiastical detail, in which case an hour. The church is free to enter - admission doesn't appear to be charged - and it's well positioned if you're basing yourself at one of the local holiday parks. Fontmills Farm Campsite is barely over a mile away, making it an easy morning wander before heading somewhere with more action.

Hailsham itself is a working market town rather than a tourist trap, which means the church gets fewer crowds than you'd find at some flashier attractions. The real draw here is authenticity - this is a functioning parish church that's been here for seven hundred years, not a heritage site that's been polished up for visitors. If you appreciate medieval architecture and the quiet satisfaction of being somewhere genuinely old, it's worth the detour. If you need something more interactive, push on to Horam Manor Country Park a few miles out instead.